---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...the opacity of a numeration system…"
description: "\"“...the opacity of a numeration system takes an important toll on language acquisition.”\" — Stanislas Dehaene"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/stanislas-dehaene-28546_language_the-opacity-of-a-numeration-system-takes_827733.jpg"
---

#  ...the opacity of a numeration system takes an important…

![“...the opacity of a numeration system takes an important toll on language acquisition.” quote by Stanislas Dehaene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/stanislas-dehaene-28546_language_the-opacity-of-a-numeration-system-takes_827733.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/stanislas-dehaene-28546_language_the-opacity-of-a-numeration-system-takes_827733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/stanislas-dehaene-28546_language_the-opacity-of-a-numeration-system-takes_827733.jpg)

> ““...the opacity of a numeration system takes an important toll on language acquisition.””

[Stanislas Dehaene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislas-dehaene/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Complex number systems hinder language learning because they add cognitive load.

**In simple terms:** Complicated counting makes language harder to learn.

Key Takeaway

Simplify numeric representations to aid language acquisition.

Themes

cognition language learning numeracy

Mood

reflective critical

Type

theoretical educational

When to use this quote

- education curriculum
- language teaching
- math instruction

Key Concepts

psycholinguistics cognitive load

Questions to Reflect On

- Can alternative numeration systems be introduced effectively?
- What role does cultural context play?

A Different Perspective

Changing systems may be impractical in established societies.

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[Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language acquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-acquisition/)

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